Oscar Robertson retired as the NBA's career assists leader while also ranking second on the all-time scoring list behind only Wilt Chamberlain. Robertson set the career triple double record early in his career, and his final total of 181 seemed like an unbreakable record; Magic Johnson, who compiled 138 triple doubles to finish second behind Robertson, was so far behind the "Big O" that the difference between their two totals would rank 10th on the career list today! A good case could be made that Robertson was the best all-around player in basketball history. Robertson alienated the league brass by attaching his name to the lawsuit that paved the way for modern free agency, and his game is not appreciated by a younger, highlight-driven generation that may not be impressed by footage of Robertson even if they had access to such footage.
It is important to understand Robertson's rightful place in basketball history in order to appreciate what Russell Westbrook has accomplished and how great Westbrook is. Westbrook's 28 points, 21 assists, and 13 rebounds in Washington's 125-124 loss to Atlanta on Monday night broke his tie with Robertson on the career triple double list, and established Westbrook as the all-time triple double king. Robertson's record stood for the vast majority of NBA history up to this point, and even with the increasing number of triple doubles we see today it may very well be 50 years before anyone surpasses Westbrook's final total; the second highest ranking current player, LeBron James, has 99 triple doubles. A player could play 72 games a year for 10 seasons, have a triple double every four games, and still not match Westbrook's current total; the high level of durability and productivity necessary to perform like Westbrook does is vastly underrated.
Westbrook plays hard every game, he battles in the paint for rebounds against players more than half a foot taller and at least 40 pounds heavier, he is one of the best playmakers of all-time, and he has shown that he can average 30 ppg in a season or score 50 points in a game if his team needs him to be a big-time scorer. All-Star players have their best seasons when playing alongside Westbrook--as can be seen by looking at the statistics of Kevin Durant, Paul George, James Harden, and Bradley Beal.
Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd (whose 107 triple doubles rank fourth on the career list), and LeBron James were among the legends who appeared in a tribute video for Westbrook released by the Wizards after Westbrook set the mark.
Years ago, both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant said that Westbrook is the current player who most reminds them of themselves.
Westbrook's approach to basketball and life sets a wonderful example: "My motto is 'Why not?' That's how I live and that's how I think. Each and every time I step on the floor, I try to do things that people said I can't do over the years and prove people wrong."
That's the article: There is a New Triple Double Champion of All-Time, and His Name is Russell Westbrook
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